asbestos in soils - WSP
ASBESTOS IN SOILS An Overview February 2015
Asbestos in soils is now a key issue in the redevelopment of brownfield sites, increasing costs and slowing development. Thirty percent of all the samples we’ve sent for analysis over the past five years have contained asbestos. This paper explains the background, why awareness has increased so significantly and provides a practical framework for action through the development cycle. WHAT’S THE BACKGROUND? It’s well know that asbestos was widely used in buildings and industry up until the late 1990s. It’s a good insulator and fire protector so widely used in asbestos cement, pipe insulation, lagging and in service ducts. It’s still present in many buildings we work on today. Asbestos finds its way into soil when these buildings are demolished. Today this is done with a deal of care, but historically that wasn’t the case. Insulation wasn’t always removed before the wrecking ball set to work. Asbestos cement was thought to be largely inert. We’ve worked on a site recently where a farmer ploughed through underground service ducts containing asbestos. Once asbestos is in soil it doesn’t degrade. So fibres from an early 1900’s demolition are still likely to be found on a site. These fibres can get into the air during development or be disturbed by site users, be breathed in and can cause lung cancers – sometimes many years later.
IS ASBESTOS DIFFERENT TO OTHER CONTAMINANTS?
In many respects asbestos is similar to other soil issues in new developments. Its presence usually comes from previous site uses and it requires a careful assessment during development. But asbestos is also different from ‘standard’ pollution. • It generally doesn’t migrate through soil, so it’s only found in what we’d call ‘made ground’ – the disturbed layer of soil near to the surface. • Significant harm only comes from people breathing in asbestos fibres. • It doesn’t naturally degrade over time. • There’s no ‘safe’ exposure threshold at the moment.
WHY’S AWARENESS OF ASBESTOS IN SOIL GROWN RECENTLY? Asbestos has been found in soils for many years, but significance has grown in recent years. This isn’t due to legislation changes, but due to four reasons, we believe: 1. Technology - Improvements in lab techniques mean it’s now much easier to screen for asbestos than in the past. 2. Knowledge - A series of industry knowledge exchange platforms have been researching and sharing information on asbestos in soils since 2011. 3. Practical experience - There’s more case studies showing how asbestos in soil is changing development plans and timetables. In June 2014 a housing development in Leek, Staffordshire was shelved after asbestos was found in soil, for example. 4. Guidance – The first authoritative guidance[1] on dealing with asbestos in soils was published in 2014. For the first time this sets out best practice guidance and further raises awareness of the importance of asbestos in soils. We’re expecting more guidance, from the Health and Safety Executive, in 2015. 1. CIRIA (2014) Asbestos in soil and made ground: a guide to understanding and managing risks
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO DEALING WITH ASBESTOS IN SOILS It’s now important to consider asbestos in both buildings and soils throughout a site’s development. This needs
to consider not just the actual risk of harm, but how the perceived risk could impact on development plans and site value. There’s five main issues to consider:
1
2 3 4 5
Include asbestos in soil throughout your development planning - Risks, costs and timescales can usually be well addressed, but you’ll want to avoid a shock at the eleventh hour. This is best avoided by working with a team that includes qualified asbestos experts as part of your ground investigation team and proactively testing soils for asbestos at investigations. It’s also worth noting that standard professional indemnity insurance usually excludes asbestos. Choose a team that gives you this cover. Keep construction staff safe during construction - As soil’s turned over and disturbed during building works and this makes it more likely that fibres could get into the air and be breathed in by site staff. Although working outside reduces the risks, it’ll be important to do a careful plan and risk assessment to keep site staff safe. Keep end users safe after the scheme’s finished - Keeping asbestos-containing soils buried can be the best approach. This could be under building foundations and paved areas. Open areas – such as parks and gardens can have a deep layer of clean soil over the top of asbestos soils. Deep enough so gardeners and maintenance teams won’t dig into it. Keep others informed - If asbestos remains on site then this needs to be included in a site’s asbestos register. This helps keep later builders informed of the risk so they don’t accidentally encounter asbestos in later excavations. Manage perceptions - Asbestos is an emotive issue, and could affect scheme value – on emotion rather than good science. Your consultant should advise on this.
ABOUT WSP
WSP, in combination with Parsons Brinckerhoff, is one of the world’s leading professional services firms with 31,500 staff based in more than 500 offices across 39 countries. We give practical and clear environmental management advice – advice that is grounded in practical science and clear commercial advice. With both contaminated land and asbestos professionals working side by side, our teams provide a fully integrated service – from risk assessment to clean up. We’ve worked on many sites where asbestos is present in soil. Our teams are certified to appropriate ISO standards and, as you’d expect, our professional insurances include advice on asbestos.
CONTACT Do get in touch to talk about how asbestos in soil can be well managed. Dr Alex Lee Tel: +44 (0) 131 344 2310 Email: [email protected] Andrew Moore Tel: +44 (0) 16 1886 2400 Email: [email protected] Paul McAvinue Tel: +44 (0) 113 395 6200 Email: [email protected]
© 2015 WSP Global Inc. All rights reserved. The content of this publication is proprietary to WSP Global Inc. and may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part, without its prior written consent. UK-CC-FL-001-EN-201502 Printed in the United Kingdom
Asbestos in soils is now a key issue in the redevelopment of brownfield sites, increasing costs and slowing development. Thirty percent of all the samples we’ve sent for analysis over the past five years have contained asbestos. This paper explains the background, why awareness has increased so significantly and provides a practical framework for action through the development cycle. WHAT’S THE BACKGROUND? It’s well know that asbestos was widely used in buildings and industry up until the late 1990s. It’s a good insulator and fire protector so widely used in asbestos cement, pipe insulation, lagging and in service ducts. It’s still present in many buildings we work on today. Asbestos finds its way into soil when these buildings are demolished. Today this is done with a deal of care, but historically that wasn’t the case. Insulation wasn’t always removed before the wrecking ball set to work. Asbestos cement was thought to be largely inert. We’ve worked on a site recently where a farmer ploughed through underground service ducts containing asbestos. Once asbestos is in soil it doesn’t degrade. So fibres from an early 1900’s demolition are still likely to be found on a site. These fibres can get into the air during development or be disturbed by site users, be breathed in and can cause lung cancers – sometimes many years later.
IS ASBESTOS DIFFERENT TO OTHER CONTAMINANTS?
In many respects asbestos is similar to other soil issues in new developments. Its presence usually comes from previous site uses and it requires a careful assessment during development. But asbestos is also different from ‘standard’ pollution. • It generally doesn’t migrate through soil, so it’s only found in what we’d call ‘made ground’ – the disturbed layer of soil near to the surface. • Significant harm only comes from people breathing in asbestos fibres. • It doesn’t naturally degrade over time. • There’s no ‘safe’ exposure threshold at the moment.
WHY’S AWARENESS OF ASBESTOS IN SOIL GROWN RECENTLY? Asbestos has been found in soils for many years, but significance has grown in recent years. This isn’t due to legislation changes, but due to four reasons, we believe: 1. Technology - Improvements in lab techniques mean it’s now much easier to screen for asbestos than in the past. 2. Knowledge - A series of industry knowledge exchange platforms have been researching and sharing information on asbestos in soils since 2011. 3. Practical experience - There’s more case studies showing how asbestos in soil is changing development plans and timetables. In June 2014 a housing development in Leek, Staffordshire was shelved after asbestos was found in soil, for example. 4. Guidance – The first authoritative guidance[1] on dealing with asbestos in soils was published in 2014. For the first time this sets out best practice guidance and further raises awareness of the importance of asbestos in soils. We’re expecting more guidance, from the Health and Safety Executive, in 2015. 1. CIRIA (2014) Asbestos in soil and made ground: a guide to understanding and managing risks
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO DEALING WITH ASBESTOS IN SOILS It’s now important to consider asbestos in both buildings and soils throughout a site’s development. This needs
to consider not just the actual risk of harm, but how the perceived risk could impact on development plans and site value. There’s five main issues to consider:
1
2 3 4 5
Include asbestos in soil throughout your development planning - Risks, costs and timescales can usually be well addressed, but you’ll want to avoid a shock at the eleventh hour. This is best avoided by working with a team that includes qualified asbestos experts as part of your ground investigation team and proactively testing soils for asbestos at investigations. It’s also worth noting that standard professional indemnity insurance usually excludes asbestos. Choose a team that gives you this cover. Keep construction staff safe during construction - As soil’s turned over and disturbed during building works and this makes it more likely that fibres could get into the air and be breathed in by site staff. Although working outside reduces the risks, it’ll be important to do a careful plan and risk assessment to keep site staff safe. Keep end users safe after the scheme’s finished - Keeping asbestos-containing soils buried can be the best approach. This could be under building foundations and paved areas. Open areas – such as parks and gardens can have a deep layer of clean soil over the top of asbestos soils. Deep enough so gardeners and maintenance teams won’t dig into it. Keep others informed - If asbestos remains on site then this needs to be included in a site’s asbestos register. This helps keep later builders informed of the risk so they don’t accidentally encounter asbestos in later excavations. Manage perceptions - Asbestos is an emotive issue, and could affect scheme value – on emotion rather than good science. Your consultant should advise on this.
ABOUT WSP
WSP, in combination with Parsons Brinckerhoff, is one of the world’s leading professional services firms with 31,500 staff based in more than 500 offices across 39 countries. We give practical and clear environmental management advice – advice that is grounded in practical science and clear commercial advice. With both contaminated land and asbestos professionals working side by side, our teams provide a fully integrated service – from risk assessment to clean up. We’ve worked on many sites where asbestos is present in soil. Our teams are certified to appropriate ISO standards and, as you’d expect, our professional insurances include advice on asbestos.
CONTACT Do get in touch to talk about how asbestos in soil can be well managed. Dr Alex Lee Tel: +44 (0) 131 344 2310 Email: [email protected] Andrew Moore Tel: +44 (0) 16 1886 2400 Email: [email protected] Paul McAvinue Tel: +44 (0) 113 395 6200 Email: [email protected]
© 2015 WSP Global Inc. All rights reserved. The content of this publication is proprietary to WSP Global Inc. and may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part, without its prior written consent. UK-CC-FL-001-EN-201502 Printed in the United Kingdom
